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What version or edition is this?

This is the 4th edition with a publication date of 1/22/2013.

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any CDs, lab manuals, study guides, etc.

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Summary

This book is about the soil that supports the world's forests. Forests can be viewed from a range of perspectives all of which are based on soils. Forest productivity is a story that centers on photosynthesis and plant growth, but plant biochemistry is supported by nutrient cycles that are essentially a soil story. Within a region, patterns of forest productivity result from spatial variations in the soils. The diversity of plant species in forests is intrinsically linked with the soil as well; across landscapes, the patterns in vegetation are typically modified- or even controlled- by patterns in soils. More than 99% of the diversity of life in forest ecosystems resides in soils, where small, numerous and important organisms make the rest of the ecosystem possible. Clearly structured throughout, the book opens with the origins of forest soil science and ends with the application of soil science principles to land management. It also provides an introduction to the literature of forest soil science and to the philosophy of forest soil science research.